The mitral valve is located between the left aria (upper chamber) and left ventricle (lower chamber), and allows blood to pass from the left atrium to the left ventricle. In a normal functioning mitral valve, its two leaflets open to allow blood to flow from the atria to the ventricle and then close tightly after the ventricle fills. At the University of Chicago Medicine, we are at the forefront of heart valve disease care and our physicians work with each patient to create the right treatment for their needs.
Understanding Mitral Valve Disease
Mitral Valve Regurgitation
Mitral regurgitation, also know as mitral insufficiency, occurs when the leaflets, or cusps, of the mitral valve do not close properly, allowing blood to flow backwards through the heart. As a result, the heart is not effectively pumping oxygenated blood out off the heart and into the rest of the body.
Mitral Valve Stenosis
Mitral stenosis occurs when a build up of plague in the valve and the flaps begin to stiffen and thicken, which eventually fuses the flaps together and forces the heart to work harder to pump blood through the body.
Causes and Symptoms
Mitral valve disease can either be caused by a defect or abnormality in the mitral valve, or it can result from another disorder or condition, such as:
- Rheumatic fever
- Heart attack
- Endocarditis (infection of the heart valve)
- Infection or trauma
- Cardiomyopathy (abnormality of the heart muscle)
- Congenital heart defects
- Radiation therapy
- Heart rhythm disorders
If you are at risk for developing regurgitation, it is important to understand that you may or may not experience symptoms. For those that do have symptoms, they can either come on suddenly or gradually worsen. Consult your physician if you are at risk for mitral valve disease and are experiencing one or more of the following symptoms:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain, palpitations
- Dizziness or syncope (fainting)
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Swelling of hands, arms, leg and/or feet
- Weight gain
Mitral Valve Treatments
At UChicago Medicine, we specialize in diagnosing and managing heart valve disease. Depending on the severity of the condition and the patients' medical history, treatment may include medications and lifestyle changes as well as surgical or interventional therapies. Our physicians are highly skilled in performing heart surgery, including robotic heart surgery, and transcatheter mitral valve repair. We have a multidisciplinary team of experts that evaluates each patient to determine which treatment strategy will be the most successful and provide the best quality of life.
As pioneers in heart valve treatment, our experts can often offer surgical solutions that are not available at most hospitals. Physicians at the University of Chicago Medicine specialize in minimally invasive and robotic valve repair — we perform more robotic procedures than any program in the United States. Our cardiac surgeons aim to repair malfunctioning heart valves before opting for total valve replacement, but they also can replace faulty or defective heart valves with artificial or biological valves taken from human or animal valve tissue. You and your physician will work together to decide what treatment option will work best.
Telemedicine at UChicago Medicine
Valve and Structural Heart Disease Treatment Options
Request an Appointment
You can also make an appointment with our providers by:
– Scheduling a virtual video visit to see a provider from the comfort of your home
– Requesting an online second opinion from our specialists
– Filling out an online questionnaire (e-visit) to get a same-day diagnosis and treatment for common conditions.
To speak to someone directly, please call 1-888-824-0200. If you have symptoms of an urgent nature, please call your doctor or go to the emergency room immediately.
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